Tuesday, April 14, 2009

We were delighted and thankful to God to learn today from Middle East Concern (MEC) that Hamoud Saleh Al-Amri, a 28 year-old Saudi national imprisoned in January for writing in his blog (www.christforsaudi.blogspot.com) about his decision to follow Jesus, was released by the Saudi authorities on March 28th. He had been arrested on January 13th after writing in his blog about his decision to follow Jesus. Hamoud has been banned from travelling outside Saudi Arabia or appearing in media but additional entries have since appeared in his blog.

The relative leniency of the Saudi authorities in this case has surprised some analysts, given the outspoken nature of Hamoud's criticism of the regime and his explicit claim to have left Islam. Although there have been some recent tentative moves towards reform, Saudi Arabia remains a country where political expression is overtly restricted and only one closely defined version of Sunni Islam is allowed to be publicly practised. Other forms of Islam and all other faiths are severely restricted.

According to MEC, Christians in Saudi Arabia request our continued prayers that:

Hamoud will know the peace and presence of Jesus each day

The authorities will continue to act leniently towards Hamoud

That he will know the Spirit's guidance in all his actions, especially those related to the restrictions placed upon him

Those who have read Hamoud's blog would make a similar decision to follow Jesus

The reform process will continue, and will lead to greater freedom for Christians to express their faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.